Patna Pirates secured a stunning 38-27 victory over league leaders Puneri Paltan in a dramatic Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2025 encounter at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium. Star raider Ayan Lohchab delivered an outstanding performance, amassing 17 points and inspiring his team to overcome a halftime deficit against the formidable Puneri Paltan. The Pirates’ defense also played a crucial role, stifling the league leaders’ offensive efforts.
The match commenced with an intense tactical standoff, where both teams exchanged blows. Patna’s raiding unit, featuring Ayan Lohchab and Ankit Kumar, rotated effectively, while the defense, anchored by Deepak and Navdeep, successfully repelled Puneri’s initial advances. Early on, Patna established a slight lead, holding an 8-5 advantage after ten minutes, showcasing their coordinated strategy.
Throughout the first half, Ayan Lohchab was instrumental, executing swift and confident raids that kept Patna in contention. Navdeep’s leadership in defense was also evident with timely tackles. However, Puneri’s formidable defensive trio, including Abinesh Nadarajan, Rakesh, and Sanjay Enania, showcased their resilience with crucial Super Tackles, shifting the momentum. Puneri Paltan, fueled by contributions from Abhishek Gunge and Mohammad Nabibakhsh, found their rhythm in the latter stages of the half, capitalizing on Patna’s errors to take a narrow 15-13 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Ayan Lohchab continue his brilliant form, scoring vital points and orchestrating successful raids that put Puneri Paltan under immense pressure. Milan Dahiya also made a significant impact with key raids, including securing an ALL OUT. Despite Puneri’s attempts to stage a comeback, driven by Abhishek Gunge and Mohammad Nabibakhsh, Patna’s cohesive play on both ends of the mat allowed them to systematically erase the deficit.
As the game progressed, Patna’s raiders, spearheaded by Ayan Lohchab and Stuwart Singh, delivered sharp and effective raids. Their defense also intensified, with Ankit and Navdeep making critical stops that prevented Puneri from mounting a sustained challenge. This balanced performance in raiding and defense enabled Patna to build a decisive lead, ultimately securing a comfortable win over the table-toppers.